(D11, ME) Sake or Story?

[Soshi Eiji]

While one could not describe what having tea with Honaka was like in so many words, Eiji found himself at a crossroads...well a cross corridor. Many were making their way down the right corridor in preperation for the artistic event announced in court today. Or should he take the corridor on the left, returning to the Scorpion House and a bottle of sake?

Normally, this would have been an easy choice. But while tea with the Ikoma HAD calmed him down, the day of court had not left him in the mood to perform. If no one had rallied in the name of honor then, why would they care about a story this evening? They might as well spend their time listening to Jihen babble about magic sea turtles.

So he dawdled in the hall, considering his choices.

[Agasha Yuna]

And here came Yuna walking on a path that might take her towards the art event, though there was some time yet.

It had occurred to her that she was a very mediocre artist compared to many here and might need more time than most to pull something together.

She smiled to see him and gave a bow.

"Soshi-san, how are you? Are you going to tell a story at the art event?"

[Soshi Eiji]

And here came Yuna walking on a path that might take her towards the art event, though there was some time yet.

It had occurred to her that she was a very mediocre artist compared to many here and might need more time than most to pull something together.

She smiled to see him and gave a bow.

"Soshi-san, how are you? Are you going to tell a story at the art event?"

Eiji bowed at the arrival of the Dragon.

"Good evening Agasha-san. Given the indifference to my story in court this afternoon, I was debating simply spending the evening with a bottle of sake in quarters instead." he admitted.

He wasn't upset with the Dragon for her stance in court. But the idea of storytelling will kill teams running around while no-one seemed concerned was not terribly appealing to him.

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"I am sorry I spoke against your proposition. I just felt like harm could be done scapegoating before the investigation was done."

"But maybe you have some insight I don't."

"This is an unprecedented situation. It is alarming to hear of attacks in the night. But the pressure on our hosts must be excruciating."

Ah, she felt sorry for Ikoma-sama. He had been kind to her. But also fragile. He was doing better. He surely needed trust. Help, not threats.

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shook his head.

"Ie, you spoke as you felt you must Agasha-san. I don't know if I could ever claim to have more insight than a Dragon." he said with a faint smile.

"My concern is truly the....care-free way the news was released. No words about tigtening security. No words of apology or regret. Simply 'there are assassins on the loose, and the bowman's wager is tonight.'

He shook his head.

"Court is like a battlefield, but it is not supposed to actually BE a battlefield, Agasha-san. We accept that at any moment we may be called to the court of Emma-O, either because our Duty demands it, or another's does. But, if the guards are spending their time watching Scorpion have tea with heirs, and then fail their duty so badly risking the life of one who might be Emperor.."

"Something must be done. Something more than looking into it."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"The fault in the announcement is - I think - with Hida-sama who presided over court. He is a bushi, not a courtier. He is perhaps used to Crab ways where human bandits are a minor annoyance compared to the darkness they face and discuss with solemnity."

"I do not fault our hosts or the Seppun or the Emerald Magistrate for that."

"It sounds like you found the guards rather zealous when you wanted to speak to one of the potential heirs? That's good. Honestly, I'm more concerned that I have not seen guards with the heirs. But maybe the guards remain out of sight."

Still, she frowned.

"No, I don't recall any guards coming with when Seppun-sama was ordered to fetch water from the market. Not that he isn't amply able to defend himself, but still... He would have been distracted trying to protect the crowd in such a place."

No, it had been samurai who helped him through. The crowd had mobbed around him, from love of him. "I couldn't keep the crowd back, myself. Happily other samurai came and did so far better than me. I did not see anyone who wanted to harm him. The crowd swarmed from love of him. But had an assassin been ready and waiting in that crowd..." She drew a sudden haggard breath.

"It may just be ... the hosts and Seppun have only ever had to guard one Emperor. To divide the same forces five ways ... It is unfair to imagine that is equally easy. Guards died trying to prevent last night's attack. They did what they could. A better question may be why the five are not co-housed, sleeping in an easily guarded central chamber. But perhaps none dare dictate to them."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji frowned a bit at the Dragon's words, both out of the concern raised and out of concern for her.

"I had not considered the tea incident in regards to Seppun-sama's security. If it is as Agasha-san says it is, she is quite correct, that would have been an ideal time for an assassin to strike. However, were she to raise such a concern, I feel that she would be told that she is incorrect. The Seppun family would claim that Seppun-sama was always under their watch and protection. After all, he is unharmed, therefore he is safe, yes?" he offered.

Eiji folded his arms as he considered her other points.

"If no guards had died, that would have suggested that no guards were there." he mused before shaking his head.

"The fact remains Agasha-san, we are not out in the hinterlands, and this was not a group of bandits. Had Tatsuya-sama's rescuers drank just a little bit more at the banquet, today we could well have been planning the funeral of someone who might have been Emperor. Someone ordered this, someone who had the resources to make it happen. And while Hida-sama's lack of courtly grace may excuse a poor presentation, I am very concerned that if more is not done to ensure their safety and soon, that there WILL be another attack. As it is written, 'You have to get lucky every time. We only have to get lucky once.'"

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"It is a terrible thing to imagine a strike here, at winter court itself, that could overwhelm the assembled bushi and Daimyo and guards. But do you think they knew about the Floating Banquet? That they chose the night when all might be most impaired?"

The thought shocked her. Bandits didn't have the agenda of imperial winter court.

"Is ... is it possible that our fifth candidate and his son ... that they had enemies who followed them here? The life on the waves is dangerous. I am far from expert on how dangerous. But one who followed could have then listened to idle conversation and learned about the event, the schedule. Perhaps even where they slept. But, I didn't know that. How many people knew that he and his son slept at the temple? And ... why was that ever chosen for them? By them?"

"Ikoma-sama, who is surely doing his best and deeply alarmed by the series of events during this court, did once say to me that it is hard for the proud to accept help. It is easier to simply help without asking them to acknowledge that help was needed or given. I hadn't realized that. He was kind enough to understand that it was well-intentioned when I quietly asked if help might be welcome on the earthquake matter. Oh! Please don't tell anyone that I did that. The whole point was the quietness of the offer. But, at any rate, he gently mentored me that it is easier on all parties when helpers simply quietly help."

"So, you could patrol. Or others could. Quietly doing just a bit more?"

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji considered the idea.

"It's not impossible they've made enemies upon the waves. But a 'kill team' certainly suggests someone with a great deal more money and influence than an innkeeper they skipped out on paying. But regardless, if you were their enemy striking at them before they were at the Winter Court would have seemed like the more obvious answer. Although...."

Eiji frowned a bit, a new idea pushing it's way forward.

"Hm, another question, Agasha-san. Why a 'kill team'? Your earlier example of a knife in the crowd, makes me wonder this. There are many ways a dishonorable person might try to commit murder. A knife in the crowd, poison in the cup, even burning down the temple, blasphemous though that would be. Each of these methods require far fewer people to know what you are doing, and arguably a great chance of success. Why would you instead, then, order essentially a frontal assault on someone who should be well guarded?" he asked.

[Agasha Yuna]

"That is a good question."

"Someone with that kind of money and resources might place very little value on the lives of bandit henchmen, though they must have been well trained. Perhaps the goal was less that they succeed against so mighty a host (though a person of ill intent might roll those dice), but also to provoke some kind of response in Tatsuya-sama and his son. Something intended to be witnessed. Have you heard an account of the fight? Did either of them do anything strange or dishonorable? I can't imagine they would. I most certainly do not wish to suggest I think it likely or even posssible. But perhaps someone believed a ronin would appear unpleasantly ... ronin-ish ... if faced with an enemy in the night, particularly after a bit of drinking."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji shakes his head at this.

"Ie, other than the court announcement, there has been no talk of it. That is not particularly surprising. Even if you wished to sing of the heroics of those who helped, the Lion and Seppun look bad by comparison. I'm honestly surprised it was announced in court at all, but I assume the disturbance was large enough that they did not believe they could conceal it. While I'm sure that those who helped could be trusted to keep quiet, servants do tend to whisper." he offered.

[Agasha Yuna]

"I do think there will be a report submitted to the court when the investigation is complete. Though whether that is a 'sealed' report, or an open one, is a good question."

"But you could certainly ask the folks involved if there is an opportunity to assist in any follow-up."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji took a long hard look at the Dragon before slowly shaking his head.

"No, Agasha-san." he said.

"I am no bushi or investigator. What I can offer in such times is my courtesy." Eiji quoted. "Let them all do their jobs. We can trust that this will be handled swiftly, competently, and with all possible honor."

He shook his head.

"These are not just words, Agasha-san. You spoke them, and they were accepted as the will of the court. To further insert myself into this matter would be discourteous."

He sighed.

"I leave you with my words from earlier, Agasha-san. 'The Lion are an honorable clan. The Seppun family is an honorable family. I have faith that they will atone if we call for it, and if we stay silent? Then the failure is ours. This much is true.'" he reminded her.

He bowed, deciding to go roar at the garden instead.

/exit unless stopped

[Agasha Yuna]

"Soshi-san, my words were to give them time and focus to complete the investigation. To avoid anyone being punished prematurely. You saw that the Lion Kitsu-san volunteered immediately, from honor. To protect. Aren't we more interested in the truth?"

"I do not think my words are contradicted if those investigating continue to seek the truth, rather than easy scapegoats."

"They do not need us to call for it, for them to atone if wrong-doing is found. They will. But they will do so in the context of a completed investigation. If you find them honorable, you know that your words or silence do not impact their atonement."

[Soshi Eiji]

Well that did stop the Scorpion. But as they say, petting scorpions with a gentle hand only nets you a sting.

"Are you so desperate to hear the words that you are right and I am wrong, Agasha-san? Can you not simply accept your victory in court? Can you truly not bear it if someone, anyone feels that you are less than perfect?" he asked the wall.

He turned around, and walked swiftly back to her.

"I will admit it then, Agasha-san. I was wrong about you in particular. Clearly, I was blinded by your beauty, grace, and gentle demeanor. I thought that the reason you spoke as you did in court was only because you are too gentle to bear the thought that anyone might be hurt. That if only we waited for the investigation, they'd find out it was all a big misunderstanding. No one is truly to blame! Maybe those guards aren't really dead, they're just really tired. The assassins would swear to do no more wrong, perhaps they'd shave their heads and talk philosophy with Jihen!"

He shook his head.

"But stand, even unwittingly against Agasha-san, and the knife comes out, hm? You think I want scapegoats and puinshment and not the truth, hm? You think that every time the Lion fail at the imperial Winter Court, my heart does not bleed? That I watch this parade of failings in security from the Crane House to the Temple Complex and feel nothing? Or perhaps you think I watch two Lions upon the dueling ground, and rather than grieve over the shameful loss of honor I see there, that I cackle with glee for the grevious wounds they inflicted upon each other?"

Eiji was clearly both angry and hurt. He'd truly enjoyed her company, but she had pushed him too far on the wrong day.

"If you think that wanting accountability and greater security for those who would be our ruler makes me a monster, then you are right, Agasha-san. You are right, and I am wrong. Clearly."

[Agasha Yuna]

She looked a little bewildered by his response.

She took a moment. Listening. Breathing.

"Soshi-san, I see that I have upset you. I am sorry for it. So sorry." She gave a bow to him.

"I misunderstood your motion, I think. The fault is in my hearing and understanding, not your words."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji also took a deep breath, refinding his center before bowing as well.

"Then I am sorry for mischaracterizing your ojections Agasha-san. These are turbulent, dangerous times. We both want peace and security. No one is helped when we turn on each other unecessarily. So, let us both be wrong in the past, and right going forward. If you are willing to allow such?" he asked.

Eiji was remoreseful for letting his emotions get the better of him. It had been quite the upsetting day and the Dragon was not the architect of it.

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled at him, relieved.

"That's right. We both want peace and security. And ... and unfortunately there is someone out there who doesn't." At least one someone. Perhaps more.

"I am glad to have been wrong, and to try to do my best to be right more often, going forward. It is all troubling, yes. And we are stumbling in the dark. I'm glad you are here, Soshi-san. Maybe there is something we can figure out, working together."

"I did run across one thing that might interest you. Regarding disease and pestilence striking the imperial court, that historically happened at least once because Tenjin was very angry. Tenjin, that is the Fortune of writing. Before he was a Fortune, Tenjin was a poet. He wrote something truthful and Hantei III didn't like it, and had him executed. And the court was immediately struck by disease and pestilence. Until Hantei III begged the spirit for forgiveness and created a temple in Tenjin's honor. That temple is the Ikoma Library. Here. And it was then that the Emperor elevated Tenjin to a Fortune."

"It is good to have medicine stockpiled, but the cure may be apology and offering. A spiritual solution. Who is angry? And why? And at whom? It could be Tenjin again. But the earthquake suggests Kyufoki also, and perhaps Gobai who is associated with Kyufoki. I'm not sure how to know. But ... I wanted to share that much with you."

[Soshi Eiji]

Eiji considered the Dragon's words.

"Huh, I did not recall that tale, Agasha-san. But you are correct in that typically disease is a sign that we have fallen out of favor with the Heavens. Medicine is good, but ultimately we need to find the source of the Heaven's wrath." he agrees.

"Hopefully....hmm." he starts, before reconsidering.

"I was going to say that once the matter of succession is decided that the Heavens would be satisfied....but I wonder if that's true. If the new Empress is displeasing to he Heavens...."

[Agasha Yuna]

"The trouble could be if there is something that angered the spiritual forces before the prior Empress died. Something hidden - like the fifth heir? Though that was revealed. Something that has spanned generations?"

"The earthquake was before she passed."

"But maybe the answer can be found, and the proper apologies and offerings made. If there is anything of the kind. Perhaps it is a cause that could unite all of the candidates? Working together to soothe and appease the force or forces that are disturbed?"